Wallboard retainer



Feb. 13, 1968 H. SACRE 3,368,312

WALLBOARD RETAINER l Filed oct. 24, 1965 ,.IQ nu...

A fron/vers. I v

United States Patent Oiice 3,368,312 WALLBOARD RETAINER Harry Shore, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor to Polybar Corporation, Willow Grove, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,654 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-241) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wallboard retainer having a plurality of legs which are substantially perpendicular to each other and which are produced from a water impervious polymeric vinyl material. The retainer may be extruded into its desired shape. The retainer has an arcuate leg which has grooves therein to increase flexibility of the leg. The retainer has a generally U-shaped section which 4may frictionally retain a wallboard therein.

The invention relates to a wallboard retainer for use in the construction of partitions. The partition construction is of the type utilizing dry wall sheathing or wall board juxtaposed to conventional studs or coreboard. Between such juxtaposed portions, a wallboard retainer is provided in accordance with the present invention.

The use of wallboard has become prevalent inthe construction of partitions. It is known that buildings move due to settling, temperature changes, and other physical phenomena. Due to the movement of buildings, wallboard has not been extended the entire distance between the walls of a building in constructing partitions. The wallboard generally will have vinyl foam or caulking provided at its ends to provide for the movement of the building ing. Such vinyl foam or caulking is Ipoor in appearance and it is generally necessary to add trimming to the edges of the wallboard. The use of trimming creates an additional expense and the trimming is often not llexible enough to accommodate the movement of the building.

One embodiment of a wallboard retainer in accordance with the present invention has a plurality of legs which are substantially perpendicular to each other and is made from a water impervious polymeric vinyl material. Other suitable material may be used. The wallboard retainer is extruded into its desired shape. The use of vinyl is desirable since it is lire retarding and thus is safer in use.

The wallboard retainer is provided with an arcuate leg or cove portion which has grooves therein to increase the tlexibility of said leg. The retainer is provided with a generally U-shaped section for frictionally retaining the wallboard therein. Various legs of the retainer are beveled so as to blend in with the walls which they contact and thus present a pleasant appearance.

The wallboard retainer of the present invention leads itself to mass production by extruding the retainer on a continuing basis with subsequent cutting to required lengths. The wallboard retainer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is provided with a solid color so that painting is unnecessary. The retainer can be adapted to retain wallboard which varies in thickness. The retainer presents a good appearance. It eliminates the need to trim the edges of the partitions.

The wallboard retainer of the present invention also provides a sanitary corner, as opposed to caulking prently in use. The retainer is self-adjusting as the building moves and automatically compensates for irregularities in iloor to ceiling measurements and therefore 4provides a uniform appearance regardless of such irregularities.

The wallboard retainer may be preassembled by force 3,368,312 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 litting the same onto an end of the wallboard or it can be held in place and the wallboard thereafter installed.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a single member which accommodates all of the elements which make up the partition. Thus, the single extruded retainer is adapted to retain the coreboard and the wallboard juxtaposed on each side of the coreboard.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel wallboard retainer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer adapted to be interposed between a wallboard and a wall which said wallboard is adapted to abut.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which is water impervious, ilexible, easy to cut, inexpensive, and capable of being made of transparent or translucent material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which is adapted to accommodate all of the members from which the partition is constructed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer having a neat and clean appearance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which has a cove portion which is suiiciently ilexible to compensate for movement of a buliding relative to the partition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which is tire resistant.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which retards noise.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which automatically compensates for irregularities in floor to ceiling measurements.

.It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallboard retainer which is light in Weight and is easy to manipulate.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawing forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the wall retainer in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partially in section of the wall retainer of the present invention cooperating with partition which has been installed.

FIGURE 3 is a section view showing a modification of the wallboard retainer of the present invention in combination with a partition.

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of a further modiiication of a retainer made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a section view of the retainer of FIG- URE 4 in combination with a partition.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 2 a wall Ill, a portion of the wall having a conventional U-runner connected thereto. The U-runner 12 may be connected to the wall 10 by means of conventional nails I4. The U-runner i2 may be made up of any desired material and per se forms no part of the present invention.

Conventional noise stop board 16 is secured to the U- runner I2. The U-runner I2 also retains coreboard 18. Juxtaposed on each side of the coreboard 18 are layers of dry wall sheathing or wallboard 20. The wallboard 20 may be nailed to or connected in any convenient manner to the coreboard 1S. A series of spaced studs (not shown) could be utilized in place of the coreboard 18,

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a wallboard retainer in accordance with one em- 9 u bodiment of the present invention designated generally as 22. Wallboard retainer 22 has a first leg 24 and a second leg 28 which are integral and substantially perpendicular to each other. A third leg 34 is integral with the second leg 28 and has a portion 36 thereof which extends substantially parallel to first leg 24. The leg 34 has a further portion thereof 38 which extends in a direction opposite to the portion 36. The cove portion 38 has an arcuate shape 40 and has a bevel 44 at its end. The portion 36 of the third leg 34 has a bevel 42 at its end. The cove 38 of the third leg 34 is provided with grooves 46 on its rear face 45. The grooves substantially increase the ilexibility of the cove 38 of the third leg 34.

The wallboard retainer 22 is preferably extruded as an integral unit from a water impervious polymeric material which is flexible, easy to cut, inexpensive, fire resistant, and may be either transparent, translucent or a solid color. Vinyl is such a material which may be utilized. The dimensions of the wallboard retainer may vary in accordance with the thickness of the wallboard to be used.

The cove 38 of the third leg 34 defines a space 39 between the inner surface 45 thereof and the outer wall of the U-runner 12. The cove 38 and the space 39 cooperate to retard noise. The cove 38 furthermore automatically provides a distance of approximately one-half inch between the partition and the wall, thus assuring proper position of the partition with respect to the wall.

When the wallboard retainer 22 is made from a material which is solid in color, the exposed third leg 34 of the wallboard retainer may become substantially indistinguishable in the environment in which it is located.

The first leg 24 may he longer than the portion 36 of the third leg 34 in order to provide added support for the retention of the wallboard 20. Such a modification is shown in FIGURE 3.

A further modification of the present invention is disclosed in FIGURE 4. A retainer designated generally as 48 is adapted to accommodate all of the members from which the partition is constructed. The retainer 48 is shown abutting the wall 50 in FIGURE 5. Conventional noise stop board 52 is inserted into the retainer 48, A conventional nail 53 is adapted to hold the retainer in its selected position. Studs 54 may be placed at spaced intervals. Wallboards 56 may be adapted to be connected to the studs 54. rl`he retainer 43 iS comprised of a central U-runner S which is integral with two wallboard retainers 60. The wallboards 56 are adapted to be engaged by the wallboard retainers 60. Thus, the single extruded retainer 4S is utilized to accommodate all the members which make up the partition.

In using the wallboard retainer 22, the hereinafter set forth sequence of operations may be followed.

The U-runner 12 may be nailed or otherwise secured to a wall 10. Thereafter, noise stop board 16 may be inserted into a U-runner 12. Coreboard 18 may then be inserted into the U-runner 12. Thereafter, the wallboard retainer 22 can be placed in position so that bevel 44 of the cove 38 abuts the wall 10 and the first leg 24 is placed against the U-runner 12. The wallboard may then be inserted in the generally U-shaped opening defined by the inner surfaces of the first leg 24, second leg 28, and portion 36 of the third leg 34. The wallboard 20 is frictionally engaged by the wallboard retainer 22. It is not necessary that the wallboard 20 be in fiush engagement with the second leg 28 of the wallboard retainer 22. The wallboard 20 may be moved within the wallboard retainer 22 in order to compensate for irregularity in floor to ceiling measurements. The wallboard 20 is thereafter nailed or otherwise secured to the Coreboard 18.

The wallboard retainer 22 may be preassembled by force fitting the same to an end of a wallboard 20 and the entire assembly can be placed into position and the wallboard thereafter nailed to the Coreboard 20.

The wallboard retainer 22 provides for movability of the wallboard 20. The cove 3S is provided with grooves 46 on the back portion 40 thereof which enable the cove 38 to flex and thereby accommodate any movement in the building. The cove 38 is provided to close the opening between the wallboard 20 and the wall 10. The cove 38 is sufficiently flexible to maintain the proper position of the wallboard with respect to the wall.

The bevels 42 and 44 on the third leg 34 are provided to neatly blend in the wallboard retainer 22 with the wall It) and the wallboard 20. Thus, a neat and attractive corner is presented.

It will be appreciated that the leg 24 may be longer than the portion 36 of the third leg 34 to provide for extra support for the wallboard 20.

In utilizing retainer 48, the hereinafter set forth sequence of operations may be followed.

The retainer 48 is secured to a wall 50. Thereafter, a noise stop board 52 is inserted in the U channel 58 of the retainer 48. A Coreboard or a series of studs 54 may thereafter be installed. Thereafter, wallboards 56 are inserted into the retainer 60 and the wallboards 56 may be secured to the stud 54.

The retainers 22 and 48 provide a means for neatly binding the edge of the wallboard and at the same time provide a flexible cove portion to close the opening between the partition and an adjacent surface. The retainers retard fire and noise, and provide a neat and sanitary corner. They have a good appearance and eliminate the need to use trim on the edge of the wallboard. The cove portion of the retainers provides sufiicient flexibility to permit the partitions to adapt to movements of the building. The flexibility of the cove portion permits the other legs to be more rigid so that they will be easy to handle during the installation. The retainers can be utilized with all thicknesses of wallboard and also for lath and plaster application.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a partition comprising a Ushaped channel member including a Coreboard and juxtaposed layers of wallboard connected to said Coreboard wherein said U-shaped channel is connected to a wall and said wallboard and Coreboard are spaced from said wall, a wallboard retainer, said retainer having first and second legs which are substantially perpendicular to each other, said retainer being made from a water impervious polymeric material, a third leg integral with the terminal portion of said second leg overlying a portion of said wallboard and abutting said wall, said first leg, said second leg and said third leg having interior surfaces for frictionally engaging said wallboard, a portion of said third leg abutting said wall having grooves therein to increase the fiexibility of said portion of said third leg, and said portion of said third leg having grooves therein being arcuate in shape.

2. In a partition comprising a U-shaped channel member including a Coreboard and juxtaposed layers of wallboard connected to said Coreboard wherein said U-shaped channel is connected to a wall and said wallboard and Coreboard are spaced from said wall, a wallboard retainer, said retainer having first and second legs which are substantially perpendicular to one another, a third leg integral with the terminal portion of said second leg overlying a portion of said wallboard and abutting said wall, said first leg, said second leg, and said third leg having interior surfaces for frictionally engaging said wallboard, a portion of said third leg abutting said wall having grooves therein to increase the flexibility of said portion of said third leg, the portion of said third leg having grooves therein being arcuate in shape.

3. A partition as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third leg has a portion thereof which extends substantially 5 parallel to said first leg, said arcuate portion of said third leg and said rst leg extending in opposite directions from said second leg, and said rst leg being substantially longer than the portion of said third leg which is parallel to said rst leg.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,018,859 1/1962 Struben 52-730 6 3,049,195 8/1962 Leat 52-238 3,274,741 9/1966 Neagle 52-309 FOREIGN PATENTS 487,979 1952 Canada. 784,319 1957 Great Britain. 960,065 1964 Great Britain.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner. 

